That was just a few short hours ago and now we're in the backyard eating BBQ and chilling like nothing happened. I didn't have time to dwell on it because this Davey kid who was an honorary brother of the SEALs from what I could gather seemed way too fond of my girl. Cady has been asleep on my chest in the sling thing her mom had got me when the baby refused to stay with anyone else but me, something I didn't mind or wouldn't have if I didn't feel like I was gonna have to kick Davey's ass any second. Lucky for him my girl only had eyes for me. Some of her friends had been invited over and it was our first time hanging as a couple even though it was in her parents' backyard so she was excited. I hadn't seen the other women since we came back here, other than when one or more of them came out to grab a plate, but now they were coming out of the house in droves. And there were a lot of them. As usual the men were off to one side, I'd been over there with th
"Grimaldi, the fu...what is this? It's not her birthday.""It's her graduation gift boy." Zing! I was all but jumping up and down inside."Aw Grim, I'm so sorry, didn't I tell you that Caitie's not graduating until next year?" That's if her daddy lets her. She'd be the only twenty-five year old in high school if he has his way. "What's this nonsense? Didn't our girl get the option to graduate early?" I shushed him and barely kept a straight face, this was going so well. Top that Colton Lyon. Caitie's face had fallen but I'll make it up to her later. "Oh well, I guess we can save it as a birthday gift, sorry kid." He hugged Caitie who looked like she was ready to cry. I didn't even risk looking at Colt. Let him stew on that. I'm pretty sure I'm breaking him down though he's still putting up a fight. Maybe I should've had her cry that would get him. He can't bear to see any of his girls cry. Too late, let's carry on. "Alright everyone, it's time for d
"Dude, Kat's getting vicious." Jared grinned as we all stood around in the backyard after that little sideshow. I kept asshole Grimaldi in my sights but the old reprobate steered clear of me. "You saw that too did you?" I didn't say shit else because I had to process. I know for a fact as twisted as he is, he'd never do that shit to my daughter, fucker doesn't know how to say no to my kids. And Kat? Somebody pull that shit with one of her cubs she'd go for the jugular, so yeah. I'm not buying this shit. "I'm gonna go put my girls down, be right back." I walked away and left him to explain to the others what he was talking about. "Kat, Cayla and Cayleigh are ready to go down.""I'll help you Colt, I need the practice." Oh so that's how it is. They've got their shit together this time. I accepted the help from Cierra and made out like I didn't know what the hell was going on. She talked my damn ear off about any and everything but what the fuck they were up to.
I didn't say shit, that's the fastest way to get her to start telling on herself. That, or fucking the truth out of her. She looked over and caught me just staring at her. "What? I was just asking the girls about their plans. Just because our daughter isn't going doesn't mean that her friends can't go and have a good time." "Those girls are graduating this year?""Yep! And they're all a year older than our Caitie, none of them are as smart as she is.""So you're saying that I'm holding her back.""When did I say that? We didn't even mention you." Yeah, but I can read between lines like a motherfucker. I'm not stupid, from the minute she and her crew came out of the house after watching whatever nastiness it is they were in there watching that had made her son nuts, all I heard was the prom, the prom, the prom. It didn't take me long to figure out that she'd got everyone in on her little game. Of course Caitiebear looked sullen because she was the o
My heart's still racing even all these hours later but I did it. I still have more work to do, but at least now I know where to start. I'd waited until everyone was busy at the BBQ to sneak out with Bunny. I didn't have to go far, that's what the drone is for, but I needed Bunny with me just in case something happened, I knew he would protect me. And, if daddy or mommy caught me then I could pretend that I was just taking Bunny for a walk. No one comes near me when Bunny's around. The thing with Aiden's drone is that it can see at night and it's not supposed to. I don't have time to figure out what he did to it but once I'm not so busy I'll have a look at it. Then I'll ask daddy to get me one and I'll do the same. I rolled onto my back and looked up at the ceiling. The house was very quiet now compared to just a little while ago when everyone was here. Bunny was asleep next to my bed, well not really, he stays awake at night because he likes to sleep during the
"Fuck!" I came awake and hit the ground running in one motion at the first scream. In my head I knew she was safe, that it was just one of the nightmares that had awakened her in the months after she'd been taken. I hit the light in her room and had to step over the dog, who'd jumped up at her scream. He was doing his best to nudge her awake. "Wake up baby, Catalina, it's daddy." I had to keep my voice low and calm even as my heart raced in my chest. Her little arms flailed around like she was fighting someone. I saw lights come on from the guardhouse and a shadow entered her bedroom door as I held my little girl close to me, talking her down. "It's okay now, you're good, you're good." I sat back against the headboard as she whimpered herself awake. "Is she okay?" Mancini stepped into the room out of the shadows. Even with the situation tearing my guts and heart out, I couldn't help grinning at the gun in his hand. "Hank what were you expecting to find?"
I can't believe he said it, he actually said it. He'd just made my life so much easier. I'd spent the last part of the evening convincing my girl that I was going to talk him into letting her come with me at the end of summer. Even though I suspected what her mother was up to, seeing the look on her face after that stunt with the car had triggered me. No way am I going to watch her look like that all summer when it's not even necessary. I knew the danger, had sat in on the meet as my father in law calls it, so I know there are ways and means of getting around it. It's not like I'd put her life in danger, something her dad should already know by now. He's gonna have to meet me halfway. I'd been laying in bed wide-awake thinking of my approach when I heard Catalina scream. Mancini beat me to the door by a second. It ripped my guts out to see that little girl like that and the thought of Caitie suffering through anything like it only strengthened my resolve. Now we
"Morning babe, did you tell her?" She walked over and kissed me as I sat in front of the specialty high chair feeding the trips. "Nope, I want you to do it." That's my girl! I'm now as excited as she is to see the look on my kid's face when I give her the news. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. "Where's everyone?""Law and Creed are out back with the boys throwing ball and Mancini's getting Cierra up. He thinks she's not doing too good Kat, how was she yesterday?" She walked over to the fridge to grab three cartons of eggs. That's a lotta damn eggs, three dozen each. "She's winding down I think, her tummy looks like it dropped more since they arrived." I know what that means I'm an expert. I'ma have to tell my boy Hank to keep an eye out. I heard the others arriving outside and got up to help her just as my daughter came in. "Morning daddy." She walked into my arms for a kiss and a hug. Fuck anyone that tells me my teenage kids don't need